Bob Sherwell, 86, skydives again for 'slapped down' youth

Mark Furler is APN Australian Regional Media’s group digital editor. He’s an award-winning journalist who has lived and worked on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for more than 25 years. He’s passionate about fighting for a better go for locals. His awards include APN Editor of the Year, and involvement in three PANPA Newspaper of the Year wins for the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Al Taylor for Kids, which is run by volunteers headed up by local electrician John Murphy, has continued Al's legacy andhas been so successful it is now being approached by schools wanting help with at risk youth.

Bob Sherwell, who is about to turn 87, comes in for a landing in the canefields at Pacific Paradise.Mark Furler

Each year, their work culminates in a camp for more than 70 youth, where they enjoy fun activities while learning about their value as individuals.

The program is unashamedly Christian with the ultimate goal to see them find Christ.
"I cry when I see these kids rushing forward to give their hearts to Jesus Christ. That is something else,'' Bob says.

"That's the end of a process these guys have taken them through where they discover they have got value,'' Pastor Baker explains.

Bob, who has been been mentoring young people for decades, said he was concerned that so much of society focused on what young people were doing wrong, rather than showing them what to do right.

"So much of society has marginalised these kids,'' Ps Baker adds. "They have been slapped down. They have been taught they are not going to make it. "Then they discover that's not the truth.''

John Murphy said while some of the youth had a lot of things stacked against them, it often only required a little bit of work and hope instilled in them for the teens to start to take hold of their potential.

Pastor Joel Baker gives the thumbs up after landing.Mark Furler

"We can show them the things they do wrong but we've got to show them what is right.''

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In Al Taylor's words: "It's about training up the next generation to believe in themselves, to believe in God, to do their best in life, not to be half-hearted, to give children a chance, to live from their heart."